Use Time Wisely

Teach us to use wisely all the time we have (Psalm 90:12 – Contemporary English Version). Making the very most of the time [buying up each opportunity], because the days are evil (Ephesians 5:16 – Amplified). My son, do not forget my law, but let your heart keep my commands; for length of days and long life and peace they will add to you (Proverbs 3:1-2).

Time is life measured out. What you do with your time determines who you are and determines what you allow the Father to do in you and through you.

All of us have 168 hours a week to accomplish what we value in life. Personally, I must have time for ministry, for organizational and managerial tasks, and time for personal ministry and staff relations. I must also make time each day for my relationship with the Father and with Jesus through the Word and in prayer. I must also spend time with my wife and children, as well as have time for leisure and hobbies, relaxation and rest.

Time is a commodity that we can’t reclaim once it is wasted. We must take full advantage of each minute of each day. And we must do this in a way that honors God and doesn’t violate His kingdom principles of love, faith, trust, and rest.

To use wisely all the time we have, we should start by tithing a portion of our day to the Father for time in the Word and in prayer. He’s promised us length of days if we will honor the Word! We can extract more out of each minute, each hour, and each day, and have time to spare if we will allow Him to be our wisdom through the Word.

Making a list of necessary priorities for the day keeps you focused on the important, so that the urgent doesn’t move it out of sight. Keeping that list before you is essential to keep your focus on what must be accomplished.

In doing this, you should also make room for the providence of God to override any plans you make. That causes you to see interruptions to your plans as the plan of God for your life, and that keep your attitude joyful and expectant when what you planned doesn’t happen. Father knows best.

He will show us how to best use our minutes. Phone calls can often be return in the car on the way to an event. We can listen to a CD series in the car as we commute. Wonderful times of meditation and prayer can accompany a long commute to work or an appointment. A chapter in a book can be read during lunch. Ask the Father how you can seize each minute and extract blessing out of it!

Let’s give God our best efforts to work with today. Let’s make the most of our 168 hours this week. Let’s carve out of each day the purpose of God for our tomorrows.